Dynamic modelling of human progressive lung fibrosis in a human lung on a chip

The treatment of chronic lung disease such as Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease (PF-ILD), is hampered by the lack of knowledge of their mechanistic driving factors. Current experimental models to study this disease rely on in vitro (e.g. ‘simple’ cell cultures) and in vivo (e.g. mice) experimental models, which are poorly representative of the human pathophysiology. Therefore, more relevant 2D/3D patient-derived cell cultures are gaining momentum as more reliable disease models compatible with personalized medicine. My research goal is to develop in close collaboration with clinical lung disease specialists and microfluidic experts a highly innovative, microphysiological model of chronic lung disease, ‘MiChroLung’. Besides recapitulating the complex cellular and environmental conditions of the pulmonary regions of interest for this disease, this system will ultimately be fully personalizable, forming the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent its early disease onset.

Keywords:human lung fibrosis, personalized medicine, ex vivo cell model, organ on chip, complex models of disease, histopathology, gene technology

Disciplines:In vitro testing, Respiratory medicine, Pathophysiology, Molecular physiology